Worknot,Spearfish and world record!

[BOTTOM DWELLER]

Left the docks at 6am this morning with Worknot,Alan and Russ for a trip to Frying Pan Tower,which is 40 miles S.E. of Carolina Beach. The seas were a little steep out of the south which made for an uncomfortable ride. 7 miles out we changed destination, turning the bow 30 degress off the head sea and charged ahead for a ledge in 100' of water and about 26 miles. We anchoed up then dropped down on it and Alan managed one Gag in the low teens. Not much to look at fish wise. After we were back in the boat I could sense Worknot itching for a run to the tower regardless of the sea conditions.By then the seas had laid down some and we pulled anchor and ran 13 miles till we started marking bait and hard bottom. Worknot and Alan splash in for the first dive and score big time. Afetr :45 minutes on the bottom Worknot appears on the surface with he and Alans catch, 3 nice Hogfish, 1 trigger and a black bass. Not bad after the long run out there and thats just what we were looking for.Next Russ and I jump in where we are lucky enough to score 2 nice sized Hogfish. This was Russ's first trip spearfishing at the "Tower" and specifically targeting Hogfish. On the large fish he shot I watched as he carefully placed his spear in the gill plate area of the fish. Unfortunately the Hog pulled away from the shaft and swam down the ledge. I swam fast after it and he didnt make it far down te ledge until I caught him with my hands and we put him on the fish stringer.
The best part of the day came when Alan decided to "free dive" (diving with out SCUBA tanks-just breath hold) and stalk the bottom below him. It wasnt long when he was about 30 yards behind the boat and tarted yelling for us to come pick him up. As we pulled the boat up to him I noticed he had a nice fish in a bear hug hold. My first guess at his fish was an AJ, since schools of them swarmed us all afternoon on all of our dives (so close that you could literally reach out and touch them). When he pulled the fish out of the water and above his head it was evident it was the nicest Hog taken of the day. We hit one more dive site, a wreck in 30' of water then headed to hill with an ass whipping 20 kt southwest wind.
Back at the dock we started unloading the fish when Worknot got a good look at Alan's fish. He asked me what the world record for Hog fish caught with a speargun and I answered 20.7 pounds. Worknot and Russ grabbed the fish and Alan and headed to an official weigh station where the fish weighed in at 20.6 pounds. After some quick phone calls I find out the the world recored for spearfishing-free diving, is 20.0 pounds. Alan has the record pending all the paper work. Also at the weigh station we were told the all tackle record is 20.6, for a tie with that fish ( Im in the process of researching if the all tackle is a North Carolina record or World record).
The reason for this post is we have friends who post regularly on this site and they have mentioned that they would like to catch a Hogfish on hook and line and even perhaps break the all tackle record. It can be done and North Carolina is the place to make it happen. Get out there and fish for them. They are there and not in very deep water. For bait, as crazy as it sounds sea urchins might be a way to start out, followed by squid ad crabs.
Thanks for letting us share with Sportfishermen our Spearfishing stories and pics.
-Bottom

[hotrodmarlin]

Awesome catch guys! Please post what the all tackle and NC record is when you find out. If it is 20.6 I'm going to be very angry with myself....
Did you guys see any pompano out there? Just wondering if they've shown up yet-

[WAHOONBOX]

CONGRATULATIONS AND......WHEN'S DINNER?

[capefisherman]

im getting dive certified and going with you guys!!!

[hunt4fish]

Damn nice fish.Great report and pics.Congrats on a great day.

[shoefish]

Look at the maw on that hogfish. Damn that's a weird looking critter. Are they good to eat?

Congrats on the pending record, that's cool to hear about!

[JMS-ILM]

Are they good to eat?

the best eating fish in the ocean....period.

we have got to figure out a way to fool those critters into being caught on hook and line a little more consistently....cause you boys sure know where to find them. pretty work joe and crew.

[BOTTOM DWELLER]

After a phone call this morining I learned that I posted the wrong weights on my initial thread. the weight of the Hog was 21.6 pounds, with the free diving or spearfished record at 21.0 pounds. Also the NC state record is 21.6 pounds. Sorry for the typo,it was late last night after along day o the water!

[brandon558]

thats awesome guys...thanks for sharing!

[SeaBiscuit]

Fantastic report Keith and crew. What a great catch! Great photos too!
You guys certainly make it look easy (but I know it is not!)
Congrats on a fine day and the pending record.
SeaBiscuit